First Appointment

If I do not answer your telephone call, please leave a message on my answering machine. Only I listen to messages, and I check messages frequently throughout the day. If you call on a weekday before 8:00pm, I will make every effort to return your call the same day. On weekends, or if you telephone after 8:00pm on a weekday evening, I may return your call the following weekday unless you tell me your call is urgent.

Please leave a few times when you will be available to talk as well as the telephone number(s) at which you can be reached. This allows you to choose the best time to talk. I will try to return your call during one of the times you leave.

I will suggest that we talk for a few minutes before scheduling a first appointment so that you can describe what you wish to work on in counseling and ask me questions. If you plan to use your health insurance to pay for your counseling, please have your insurance card and identification and group number(s) at hand when you call.

Professional Credentials and Activities

• Obtained a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology
• Licensed in Illinois as a Clinical Psychologist
• Pursues continuing education on a wide variety of subjects each year through weekly study group participation and conference attendance
• Held training or professional clinical positions in a hospital, university counseling centers, and a forensic agency
• Trained and supervised predoctoral students studying Clinical Psychology
• Taught psychology classes at the undergraduate and graduate levels
• Maintains memberships in the American Psychological Association (APA), Illinois Psychological Association (IPA), and the Chicago Association for Psychoanalytic Psychology (CAPP)
• CAPP President 2006-2007; currently CAPP Treasurer and member of the Executive Council; currently Chairperson of CAPP committees
• Serves as CAPP Liaison to IPA

Treatment Issues

• Academic difficulties, including managing stress involving time management, test taking, or choosing a major field of study in preparation for a career or career change
• Adoption issues influencing adults and adolescents
• Bicultural issues influencing relationships and career
• Coping with medical conditions or illnesses
• Cultural diversity, acculturation and identity issues experienced by 1st generation U.S. born citizens and international residents
• Eating issues involving bulimia and restriction
• Emotional issues such as depression, anxiety or anger management
• Employment indecision or conflict
• Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual issues
• Grief and mourning responses to losses involving relationships with people/pets, jobs, transitions following geographical moves
• Midlife transitions, e.g. launching adolescents from the family, entering the job market, changing career course, returning to school or starting training programs
• Relationship issues, e.g. premarital/marital/partnership, separation/divorce, bicultural relationships, intimacy issues, communication difficulties
• Self-esteem issues
• Sexual abuse sequelae
• Sexual identity and relationships
• Stress management
• Substance use (alcohol, recreational or prescription drugs) that is a secondary issue; ACOA issues

Payment and Insurance Policy Use

Engaging in psychotherapy involves a time and financial commitment. It is important that you and I agree to meet on a regular basis, and that you commit to regular meetings in order for your counseling to be effective. If you choose to submit claims to your insurer, you remain financially responsible for all charges related to your work with me that are not covered by your insurance policy.

Because clients often rely upon medical insurance to help pay for counseling services, I will work with you to understand your coverage and submit claims to your insurer. But it is very important that you understand your treatment relationship with me to be separate from your relationship with your insurance company. Your insurance policy will provide circumscribed counseling benefits either in a dollar amount or number of annual sessions; these limits are set by your insurer but may not adequately cover your treatment needs in terms of duration or frequency of appointments. It is important that you and I discuss your needs and how to best meet them within your financial means.

I am not an employee of any insurance company. However, I am presently a panel provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois PPO/POS policies. I have also worked with a number of out-of-state Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and POS policies. I accept assignment from these insurance companies as long as the insurer reimbursement rates are adequate and claims are paid in a timely manner. If you have BCBS insurance, you will be responsible to pay a coinsurance or copayment amount per session, and possibly to pay for appointments in full until your annual deductible is satisfied when you first begin working with me, or when your policy renews at calendar year end. I ask that you pay these amounts each time you meet with me

I also have worked with PPO or indemnity policies provided by many companies including (but not limited to) PHCS, APS, Humana, Cigna, Aetna, Principal, Guardian, WEA, and Value Options. As long as your insurance policy includes counseling benefits, my services are typically covered on an " out of network" basis because of my doctoral credentials. You may be responsible to meet an annual deductible amount when you begin counseling, and probably will be responsible for a copayment or coinsurance amount for each appointment or service.

Regardless of how you pay for your counseling services, each month I will give you a statement that summarizes appointments, fees, payments and lists any balance due. Should questions or problems arise, I will telephone or write your insurer on your behalf to support your claims for reimbursement up to a reasonable frequency and time demand.

It is important to note that I am not a Medicaid, Medicare or HMO provider for any insurer.

I ask clients to pay either insurance copayments or the entire fee at each session. I accept payment by cash or bank check.

If you do not have insurance -- or have questions about using your insurance, -- I will discuss treatment options with you by telephone before scheduling a first appointment.

Continuing Education

I have continued my education following completion of my doctorate studies in psychology in many ways. Each year I attend conferences that focus upon a variety of issues and client needs. In addition, I have attended a weekly study group lead by master analysts and clinicians for nine months of each year since 1995. In these ways I remain current in my counseling skills.

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